Scotland Scottish Socialist Party holds biggest ever conference By Ciaran Crossey |
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fifth Party Conference in late March had about 400 present to celebrate
the election of six members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP's) and to
prepare for the Euro Elections. This shows the anger and disillusionment of workers at New Labour and the growing desire to build a genuine socialist alternative. Unfortunately, just when opportunities to build a strong base for socialist ideas are opening up, the leadership of the SSP are starting to water down the socialist content of the party programme. While the draft manifesto contains good things like the call for a minimum wage and pension across Europe, it falls far short of the "red blooded socialist programme" that SSP leader, Alan McCoombes claimed it to be. Calls for a 'social Europe' made some delegates wonder what the SSP actually stood for. As Sinead Daly, Dundee SSP, said 'the term a social Europe is even used by some capitalists in Europe, by the right wing trade union bureaucrats, and by governments to justify their policies. We have to be clear that it is another form of capitalism.' Members of the International Socialist platform (our sister organisation in Scotland) moved amendments calling for 'a socialist Europe', for a clear break with capitalism, for bringing major firms into public ownership. Ian Fitzpatrick, from Motherwell, a low paid civil servant, said that the SSP should "explain that socialism is the only answer to the attacks on the working class." In an explanation for why the SSP was moving away from socialist principles, McCombes said that because they were working with other 'left and progressive forces...we don't want to put up any barriers' to joint work. In other words, they'll drop their politics to get into some sort of cosy alliance with these mythical 'progressive' forces. The International Socialist amendments got the support of 50 delegates, but the majority, including the Socialist Workers Party, voted to drop the specific mention of socialism. One positive aspect of the SSP MSPs is that they accept the principle that elected representatives for the SSP should not make money from it, accepting the average wage of the people they represent. This conference saw another sign of the 'pragmatism' of the SSP leadership when it rejected moves to extend this policy to trade union leaders. Could it be a coincidence that now that trade union affiliations are taking place, the leadership doesn't want to put off some union tops with talk of a worker's wage? The SSP is an opportunity for the Scottish working class to break away from New Labour. It could inspire the working class of Britain, but it needs to stop the rightward drift in its politics. |
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By
Ciaran Crossey |
In what could turn out to be a landmark dispute, 5,000 nursery nurses (nursery classroom assistants) across Scotland have been on all out strike since the beginning of May. The strike is over pay. Nursery nurses now have a starting salary of a paltry £10,000 which can rise to a maximum of £13,800. The strikers are demanding a £14,000 starting salary and a maximum of £18,000. The strikers, who are members of UNISON, are also determined to defend national bargaining. They are employed by the New Labour dominated Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). COSLA are trying to enforce local deals by each of Scotland's 32 Councils. This has been a
long running dispute. Ten months of selective action brought no progress.
Much to the surprise of the employers, a massive 81% of the workers
then voted to take all out action. Jill McNaughton, a nursery nurse from Dundee, told The Socialist (Our sister paper in England and Wales) "We're not settling until we get a national deal. But it has to be better than what's been on offer so far. In councils where nursery nurses did sign up to local deals, their hours have been increased and they have been burdened with extra duties and responsibilities." It is clear that COSLA completely underestimated the determination of these workers and that they have been rocked by the solidarity of the dispute. The rest of the trade union movement should stand behind these workers. Already there has been important support, including financial support from other trade unionists, notably from the Fire Brigades Union. This should be stepped up. The Socialist Party is preparing a solidarity tour of Ireland, North and South, in order to raise money to maintain the strike. This is a dispute which can have profound implications for other workers. It has shown that, when limited action does not succeed, all out action can be organised and can bring results. Donations
and messages of support should be sent to: |